Monday, October 29, 2007

Blue's Clues

Focus On Whatever Object You Choose

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


If you're wondering what this is, there's a simple explanation. It's simply one of the arches above a metal fence line. Each arch is about twenty centimetres or roughly eight inches high and they are set about five centimetres or approximately a couple of inches apart. So the first frame (above) is shot straight into the mid-morning light, through the arch. There's no filter used and the images has not been modified, and the over-riding blue hue completely masks the fact that the arch is painted dark green.

The second frame (below) is taken in exactly the same position, but with the focus reversed. So instead of the arch in focus, I've focused instead on the line of trees about sixty metres away and achieved an interesting effect, especially with the light reflected off the arch.

20 comments:

Smalltown RN said...

That is way cool.....I had to come over and check out your blog...Jeni told me all about it...so here I am....glad I dropped in...

Amrita said...

Artistic perspective John.

Amrita said...

Sorry by mistake I called you John

Corey~living and loving said...

I love to take a series of photos focusing on different things. FUN!
Thanks for sharing.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Smalltown RN,

Thank you so much for dropping by. And my thanks too, to Jeni for recommending my blog to you.

Do keep in touch.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Amrita,

Glad you liked the perspective.

No worries about calling me John! I have three older brothers so when we were kids we just answered to each other's names!!

John is fine with me!

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Corey,

It's terrific to experiment with a camera, isn't it?

A million things to photograph each day!

Keep smiling

David

none said...

I've recently noticed that my camera does this unintentionally.

It can make for some interesting pictures.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Hammer,

I have a friend who got stuck into the firewater one day - and the same thing happened to him too!!

Keep smiling

David

Ananda Niyogi said...

Interesting effects indeed - the moon in the second shot looks slightly oblong to me :-)

Was it a long exposure shot with a high f-number? I was wondering whether the moon could have moved across the sky (ever so slightly) during the shot...

david mcmahon said...

Hi Ananda,

It was taken at 1/500 and F 9.5

Cheers

David

Ananda Niyogi said...

Thanks David...Given 1/500, I think my earlier theory falls flat on its face :-(

It is definitely not due to shake, because the trees are clearly in sharp focus.

Just wondering - did you have a UV-filter on? I noticed once that for very bright objects (in this case the moon) there is something at play between the UV & the actual lens surface, which causes a shadow/reflection.

Sorry for being such a bore on this one, but just can't get it out of my head :-D

Les Becker said...

And this is where all my troubles begin. I invariably want the first photo, and my camera will not cooperate. So I'll end up with 13 shots of Photo 2, frustrated and threatening to drown the camera, which is laughing at me. I know it is.

Tiffany Norris said...

Love it!

Colleen said...

David- Hey this is very cool! Makes me think of the idea of Life in Persepective, too...Depending on the way we see things from different angles can drastically change our thinking and course!

Lynilu said...

I like to experiment with different effects, too. A good way to learn what you are looking at, but sometimes not seeing, with the "naked" eye.

I posted some interesting moos shots yesterday, too. Nothing fancy, just an amazing moonrise.

Anonymous said...

This is too cool, I'm just starting to learn the finer points of focusing.
Love it.

dr. filomena said...

Everything is relative and a metter of perspective, eh? ;-)

imac said...

Such a true photographer, love the way youve done this.so simple item but so eye catching.Brill stuff.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.